Véronique Fournier

Véronique Fournier served on the Montreal city council, representing Saint-Henri–La Petite-Bourgogne–Pointe-Saint-Charles as a member of Vision Montreal.

Véronique Fournier
Montreal City Councillor for Saint-Henri–La Petite-Bourgogne–Pointe-Saint-Charles
In office 2009–2013
Preceded by	Line Hamel
Succeeded by	Craig Sauvé
Ville-Marie Borough Council member, appointed by the Mayor of Montreal (with Richard Bergeron)
In office 2012–2013
Preceded by	Jocelyn Ann Campbell and Richard Deschamps
Succeeded by	Jean-Marc Gibeau and Karine Boivin Roy
Personal details
Political party	Vision Montreal, Parti Québécois

Early life and career

Véronique Fournier has taught democratic practices for community organizations at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) and, as of 2013, is pursuing a graduate degree in public administration from the École nationale d'administration publique (ENAP).[1]

City councillor

Fournier was elected to Montreal city council in the 2009 municipal election, winning a narrow victory over Union Montreal and Projet Montréal candidates. Union Montreal won a council majority and formed government, initially with the two other parties as junior coalition partners and subsequently on its own.

Fournier was appointed as vice-chair of Montreal's finance committee in March 2012.[2] Later in the same year, she accused the municipal government of being "far too timid" in its negotiations with city employees on pension changes.[3] She also argued that the city should directly oversee construction of the Bonaventure Expressway, rather than contracting the work out to the Société du Havre de Montréal (SHM).[4]

By virtue of holding her position on city council, Fournier also serves on the Sud-Ouest borough council, where she has served as chair of the urban planning and advisory committee. In 2011, the borough council voted to close the historical Bain Emard indoor pool due to a budgetary shortfall; Fournier described this as "a heartbreaking choice, but at this point the responsible choice."[5] On other occasions, she has championed the preservation of heritage buildings.[6] In 2012, she accused Transports Québec of having ignored the concerns of local residents in its plan to rebuild Montreal's Turcot Interchange.[7]

Montreal mayor Gérald Tremblay resigned in late 2012 and was replaced by Michael Applebaum, who formed a new administration with representation from all parties on council and some independents. Shortly thereafter, Applebaum chose Fournier as one of two of his appointed representatives on the Ville-Marie borough council.[8] In January 2013, Fournier welcomed Applebaum's announcement that the city would take control of the Bonaventure Expressway from the SHM.[9]

Provincial politics

In the 2014 provincial election, she ran for the Parti Québécois in Saint-Henri–Sainte-Anne but was defeated by incumbent Marguerite Blais.

Electoral record

2014 Quebec general election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Marguerite Blais	19,795	52.52	+14.06
	Parti Québécois	Véronique Fournier	8,255	21.90	-10.17
	Coalition Avenir Québec	Louis-Philippe Boulanger	4,218	11.19	-4.24
	Québec solidaire	Molly Alexander	4,029	10.69	-0.62
	Green	Sharon Sweeney	700	1.86	–
	Parti nul	Anna Kruzynski	293	0.78	–
	Option nationale	Étienne Forest	225	0.60	-1.69
	Bloc Pot	Jairo Gaston Sanchez	174	0.46	–
Total valid votes			37,869	100.00	–
Total rejected ballots			550	1.44	-0.23
Turnout			38,239	68.29	+0.18
Electors on the lists			55,999	–	–
	Liberal hold		Swing		+12.12

2009 Montreal municipal election results: Councillor, Saint-Henri–La Petite-Bourgogne–Pointe-Saint-Charles Party Candidate Total votes % of total votes Vision Montreal Véronique Fournier 2,695 30.19 Union Montreal Pierre Fréchette 2,538 28.43 Projet Montréal Steeve Lemay 2,524 28.27 Independent Sylvain Patry 792 8.87 Independent Michel Fortin 378 4.23 Total valid votes 8,927 100 Source: Election results, 2009, City of Montreal.

References

1. Véronique Fournier, Vision Montreal biography, accessed 29 April 2013.
2. "Véronique Fournier est nommée à la vice-présidence de la Commission sur les finances et l’administration", La Voix Pop, 9 March 2013.
3. Michelle Lalonde, "Applebaum defends size of tax hike; Stands by promise even as water levies top inflation rate," Montreal Gazette, 15 September 2012, A4.
4. Linda Gyulai, "More funding for harbour agency angers opposition; Parties question value city will get for its $700,000," Montreal Gazette, 26 October 2012, A4.
5. Anne Sutherland, "Ville Emard indoor pool to close; Economics forces 'heartbreaking choice'," Montreal Gazette, 21 September 2011, A8.
6. Allison Lampert, "Heritage battle raging in Sud-Ouest; Borough seeks help to protect buildings," Montreal Gazette, 27 April 2012, B1.
7. Marian Scott, "Critics attack '1950s-style' car-focused approach; Will set back sustainable transportation in city by a century," Montreal Gazette, 5 May 2012, A7.
8. "Les conseillers Jocelyn Ann Campbell et Richard Deschamps éjectés du conseil de Ville-Marie", Montreal Express, 5 December 2012, accessed 15 January 2013.
9. Christopher Curtis, "City to run Bonaventure project; Societe du havre stripped of its duty," Montreal Gazette, 25 January 2013, A7.

External links

• City of Montreal biography (in French)
• Vision Montreal biography (in French)